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[ Coastal Monitoring Project Scope & Sequence | Phases: One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six ]

Coastal Monitoring Project

Scope & Sequence

Phase 1 : Preparation Of Materials

Species Identification Photo Bank
Quadrat Construction
Data Sheets

Phase 2 : Student Preparation

Species Identification
Benthic Survey Techniques
Ocean Safety & Etiquette
Nā ‘Aumakua

Phase 3 : Water Quality

Phase 4 : Fish Abundance & Diversity

Laying Transect Lines
Conducting The Survey

Phase 5 : Data Analysis

Summarizing Results

Benthic Organisms
Substrate
Water Quality
Fish Abundance & Diversity
Drawing Conclusions

Drawing Conclusions

Benthic Organisms
Substrate
Water Quality
Fish Abundance & Diversity
Drawing Conclusions

Phase 6 : Reporting Results

Coastal Monitoring Project
Rationale

What is the importance of coastal monitoring?

The consistent monitoring of our local shorelines is an important but often disregarded area in Marine Science. Monitoring studies are used to document the abundance and diversity of marine life in a particular area. Data from these studies are often collected annually and can be used to document change in an area over time. This type of information is particularly useful in Environmental Impact Statements that must be compiled before development of or near an area can occur.

As more and more of our coastal locations become threatened by business and recreational development, it is important to collect accurate data on these areas now and continue to do so on an annual basis. With this information, human impacts on the biological and environmental aspects of our coastlines can be better assessed.

How does a coastal monitoring project benefit students?

One of the most powerful ways of increasing youth awareness of environmental issues such as coastal ecosystem depletion is to facilitate student involvement in the actual monitoring of their own coastal environment. Students work together to collect real data that they can use to make real conclusions about the health and welfare of their favorite shoreline spots.

Coastal monitoring requires students to bring together a variety of science and math concepts to accomplish a coastal survey. Students gain hands-on experience in data collection, giving them insight into the real world of science. Students use math application to analyze their data and use critical thinking skills to draw conclusions from their data.

In addition, students gain experience in working closely with others on a level that is more realistic to real life working environments. Students must work together effectively to accomplish the large task of collecting and analyzing data in an ocean environment. They look to each other for safety and efficiency in and out of the water, eventually developing a distinct cohesiveness that cannot be accomplished in a classroom setting.

How does a coastal monitoring project become long term?

The intent of this project is to provide students with the tools needed to accurately monitor their own coastal shorelines on an annual basis. Students can document change over time by simply conducting a coastal monitoring survey at select sites on an annual basis. Long term monitoring gives students a chance to collect “real” data that is not collected just to be collected; their data serves a purpose. That purpose is monitoring the health and welfare of their coastal shoreline.

The project does become a bit more complex as the annual surveys add up. Data analysis will not only compare the results between the survey sites, it will also compare the results of the sites from past surveys to see if there has been any change.

Link to STANDARDS

Materials & References

Materials

References

Hawaiian Coral Reef Ecology
David Gulko Mutual Publishing - 1998 ISBN 1-56647-234-2

Hawai‘i's Sea Creatures: A guide to Hawai‘i's Marine Invertebrates
John P. Hoover Mutual Publishing - 1998 ISBN 1-56647-220-2

Hawaiian Reef Critters
Astrid Witte & Casey Mahaney Island Heritage Publishing – 1998 ISBN 0-89610-107-x

Hawaiian Reef Fish
Astrid Witte & Casey Mahaney Island Heritage Publishing - 1998 ISBN 0-89610-108-8

Hawaiian Reefs & Tidepools: A guide to Hawai‘i's shallow-water invertebrates
Ann Fielding Island Explorations – 1998 ISBN 0-9635696-11-8

Hawai‘i's Fishes: A guide for snorkelers, divers & aquarists
John P. Hoover Mutual Publishing – 1993 ISBN 1-56647-001-3

Underwater Guide To Hawaiian Reef Fishes (Waterproof)
John E. Randall Harrowood Books – 1981 ISBN 0-915180-01-2

Hawaiian Reef: A Natural History Guide
Ron Russo Wavecrest Publications – 1994 ISBN 0-9635696-0-0

Hawai‘i's Underwater Paradise
John P. Hoover Mutual Publishing – 1997 ISBN 1-56647-121-4

A Pocket Guide To Hawai‘i's Underwater Paradise
John P. Hoover Mutual Publishing – 1997 ISBN 1-56647-151-6

Continue to Phase 1 : Preparation Of Materials